I hunt very little, but I do get called from time to time to do pest control “favors” for the neighbors. When that happens, my go-to airgun is usually a Benjamin 392 .22 caliber pump-up rifle.
There’s a lot to like about the humble 392: it’s easy to shoot well; it delivers enough power to terminate whatever you might reasonably want to shoot with an air rifle; the power can be readily varied; it doesn’t cost a ton of money, and it delivers good longevity and value for an air rifle in its price class. Mostly I like the 392 because it is light, easy to handle, and reasonably accurate.
But all is not 100 percent tickety-boo in 392-ville. The factor iron sights – particularly the rear sight – that come with the 392 are lackluster. Williams makes a peep sight especially designed for the Benjamin that works pretty well, with some caveats.
First, the Williams peep has no screw adjustment for windage. As a result, to adjust windage, you must loosen both screws that prevent side-to-side movement of the peep. Then you gently move the windage adjustment with your fingers. At this point there is the very great risk that it will slip completely out of adjustment, forcing you to start from scratch. Once you gingerly ease the windage into what you think is the proper position, you must then re-tighten the screws without jiggling the sight out of adjustment. Elevation adjustment, however, is as simple as turning a screw.
Second, once the Williams peep sight is properly mounted on the Benjamin 392 and adjusted, there is the problem that, at various distances, the front sight blade appears to be wider than the thing that you are aiming at. This, of course, can be a problem with any rifle with a blade front sight.
Finally, at dawn or dusk or anytime the light doesn’t lend itself to high contrast, aiming with metallic sights can be challenging. For all of these reasons, there are times when I yearn for a better sighting system for the 392.
Mounting a scope on a 392 is problematic. There are no dovetails on the receiver. Some tuners will cut dovetails into the receiver, but even if you mount a scope on the receiver, unless it is a very short scope, it raises the question of where do you put your hands while pumping? If you mount a normal-length scope, you are forced to pump with one hand on the 392’s pistol grip or use the scope itself as a handle for pumping.
But there is another alternative for solving the problem. Some years ago, Colonel Jeff Cooper touted the idea of the scout rifle – a rifle of no more than one meter long (39.4 inches), no more than 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds), with a forward-mounted low-power scope. The forward-mounted scope allows the shooter to keep both eyes open, to aim with precision and yet be aware of the surroundings at the same time.
I was intrigued with the idea of the scout rifle, and, using intermounts clamped to the barrel of the 392, I built one with a forward mounted pistol scope.
Here's my first attempt at a scout rifle, with a forward-mounted pistol scope.
I liked it well enough, but recently I wanted a Benjamin scout rifle that offered better performance in low-light conditions. The good folks at Crosman were kind enough to send me the goodies to put such a scout rifle together.
They consist of a Benjamin 392, Benjamin B272 intermounts, 2-piece medium profile dovetail rings for 30mm scopes, and a CenterPoint Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight, which is basically a green/red-dot sight with four reticles.
Putting it all together first requires clamping the intermounts to the barrel on either side of the rear sight. Next, loosen the weaver rings on the CenterPoint Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight and slip them off. Slide the 30mm medium profile dovetail rings on where the weaver rings were and tighten them. Finally, attach the dovetail rings to the intermounts on either side of the rear sight.
Here's my newest version of a scout rifle, with a red/green dot sight.
Tah-dah! You’re done. The result is a fast-handling pest control gun that’s a lot of fun to shoot and easy to pump because there is plenty of room to grab the rifle just forward of the breech. I find my head position behind the dot sight is a bit higher than looking through a peep, but not so high that it bothers me. The CenterPoint sight displays either red or green dots (your choice), and a continuously variable rheostat in the sight makes it easy to set the degree of brightness that you like best for the shooting conditions. The sight allows the shooter to select one of four different reticles simply by rotating a knob: a single dot, three vertical dots, a dot with a dash on either side and the bottom, and a dot within a circle.
That knob on the left side of the sight allows the shooter to select among four different reticles. The big knob on top controls the color and the brightness.
In the end, I really like this Benjamin scout rifle. It’s light, easy to handle, and quick to aim and should make a dandy tool for doing those pest control favors for neighbors.
Til next time, aim true and shoot straight.
– Jock Elliott
I have been a very enthusiastic user of the Benjamin 392 air rifle over the years.
I have two Benjamin 392’s: one scoped, and one with metallic sights.
I like the mechanical operation of the Benjamin 392. The pumping stroke feels
solid. The piston compression and the back-pressure on the pump arm and linkage
builds consistently from stroke-to-stroke, even after several years, and many tins of pellets.
I am absolutely satisfied with the brass barrels on my 392’s.
For example, after breaking-in each new air rifle with a good quality pellet, and
approximately 800 shots, each air rifle has maintained quite satisfactory target
printing for the range that each air rifle was sighted.
Through the winter months, I use my metallic sighted 392 indoors to practice
quick shouldering, target acquisition and discharge in preparation for
“cowboy action shooting” (CAS) in the summer months. As long as I am well
recollected, the 392 does not fail to print a 2-inch “Shoot-N-C” under this type
of “CAS” maneuver.
Thank you for illustrating the “scout rifle” concept for the Benjamin 392.
I am always gratified whenever I read about the versatility of the Benjamin and
Sheridan air rifles.
SASS #82972
SASS – Buel,
Thanks for your comments. SASS, I believe, stands for Single Action Shooting Society. I’ve never tried it, but I’ve seen it done. It looks like a lot of fun!
I especially like the weight of the 392. Its great for the price and very durable. I think it’s an accurate shot and I love the authentic feel of the fire.
Great article.
I just got a Benjamin 392 last week. I’ve already put a tin of pellets through it.
Question: The large “takedown” screw just in front of the trigger guard keeps coming loose. Can I loctite it with some blue 242 loctite or will this jack up the rifle?
Thanks.
Clint
Clint,
I’ve never encountered this problem. I don’t understand why the screw should loosen, since 392s vibrate very little.
Maybe a reader of this blog has a suggestion.
I was always “green” with envy of all my neighborhood friends who had a Benjamin .177 and it seemed that old Santa always left mine under someone else’s tree. Well, I’m 60 years young now and finally bought one for myself. After finding that the “iron sights” were less that exceptable, I researched the forward mounted pistol scope as illastrated in this blog. I used the same components except mine has a BSA 2×20. It’s unbelievable how accurate it is. After about 30 minutes “tweaking” the scope, I can easily put 10 straight in a one inch circle at 30 meters. I love it!
JayStuck,
Thanks for the comments. I’m glad you’re enjoying your “Scout Rifle” setup. That;’s good shooting, too.
Hi Jock
i recently acquired a Benjamin 392 from an old colleague. it is a 392 pa model but it does not have the rear sight. got lost somewhere along the way since he has had it for many many years.
the gun works perfectly well and i have cleaned it and lubricated it and put a few rounds through it but since it does not have the rear sight i cant do much with it. over here they dont sell accessories or parts for these units. The forward scope that you mentioned in this article sounds very interesting to me. can you help me with some more information on it and where i can possibly obtain one. preferably at a low cost.
thank you.
Victor,
The good folks at http://www.airgunsofarizona.com can help you out.
Hello, I have a Benjamin Model 392 airgun, my rear sight has come off and I can not get it back on. I have the parts but can not match up the grooves to secure the sight on the barrel. Any helpful hints or suggestions. Thank you
Greg,
They use a special gizmo at the factory to attach the rear sight. Perhaps some reader of this blog can help.
Just got the 392 set up and decided the scout set up is probably best for me as my old eyes may not work well with a Williams peep sight or factory iron sights. Thanks for the info.
WaydeG,
Enjoy your scout rig!
Great write up! I built one of these years ago and it worked great! The one thing you’re missing is an Accu-riser (or similar) cheek rest. This will bring your eye into instant alignment with the scope when you shoulder the rifle making target acquisition much faster. Give it a try, you’ll love it!
Thanks for your scout rifle chronicle. I’ve been thinking about this set up. I’m 67, bifocals, and need to exert some rabbit control despite all the fencing that we’ve done. I hoping the 392 would be a good gun for me, somewhat American made quality, adjustable power, friendly to the shooter. I thought about the peep site but thinking that with my vision the front blade would probably still be fuzzy. How has the CP multi-tac worked out as a scope for you with this set-up or does the 2×20 win out in the end?
Eddie M,
I think if you absolutely forced my to choose, I would prefer the lower power scope. However, if you need to shoot in low light, the dot sight would work better, provided the target is not smaller than the illuminated dot.
what distance do you have this gun sighted at? Also you got all this from crosman.com?
Angel,
20 yards, and everything for the red dot version came from Crosman.
I have the 177 and like the scout rifle set up can you email me exactly what i need to buy to achieve the red dot scout rifle with my rifle??
Thanks
Bill,
I sent you an email, but here is what you need:
The good folks at Crosman were kind enough to send me the goodies to put such a scout rifle together.
They consist of a Benjamin 392, Benjamin B272 intermounts, 2-piece medium profile dovetail rings for 30mm scopes, and a CenterPoint Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight, which is basically a green/red-dot sight with four reticles.
Putting it all together first requires clamping the intermounts to the barrel on either side of the rear sight. Next, loosen the weaver rings on the CenterPoint Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight and slip them off. Slide the 30mm medium profile dovetail rings on where the weaver rings were and tighten them. Finally, attach the dovetail rings to the intermounts on either side of the rear sight.
Thanks for your article. I purchased all the items to mount the CP tactical scope, but have some problems. I tightened the inter mounts B272, but when I tightened the scope rings down against the dovetails, it seemed to spread the B272 inter mounts and loosened the mounts on the barrel. I just barely tightened them down , but it still loosened the mounts on the barrel. I am working with a 397. I called Crosman, and they sent me another set on inter mounts, but same problem. I have since read where this is a recurring problem. Any ideas on fixing this? Thanks Jerry Young
Jerry,
I have experienced the same problem myself. Inserting a small piece of thin sheet metal into the top part of the intermount (where the scope rings squeeze) can help to solve the problem. You probably will have to experience with the thickness of the metal — use layers as necessary.
Thanks for the reply. I will try something to get it done. Jerry
Jack,
In reference to the above problem I am having with the Benjamin Sheridan Intermounts, I appreciate your information. I am still having the problem. I am just now getting back to working on mounting a scope or something to my Benjamin 392 after having some round tuit’s to get done. I tried making some shims like you mentioned, but haven’t had any luck with it working. I used .005, .010, .020 and .040 shims , but nothing worked. I assume you were putting the shims between the two pieces of each mount, where the screw went thru the shim. Is that correct? I called Benjamin Sheridan in New York and spoke to one of their tech guys about it and asked him if he had ever heard of the problem and he said he never had heard of it. I find that hard to believe since just looking at how they are made, to me it is clear that when one tightens the scope rings down, the tightening will open the clamping force around the tube where the mounts attach. Maybe I’m all wet. Any ideas? Thanks Jerry
Jerry,
Put the shims in between the top halves of the intermounts, above the screw that goes through the intermount.